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Happy holidays, everyone!
Winter fishing is in full swing right now. Not enough snow for great skiing? Want to get out of the house? Time for a break from the Christmas cheer? Then it’s time to get out on the water.
Experienced anglers will have no problem catching fish in the winter. Novice anglers may want to think about a guide trip. Rates are always reduced in the winter. First-time anglers may also find this a great time to learn to fly fish, as catch rates are high and the fish are not picky.
The Big Wood is a gem of a winter fishery. Great hatches of Midges get the fish percolating on most afternoons. Small nymphs like Zebras and Brassies are all one needs to catch fish subsurface. A Girdle Bug is a great choice for anglers that want to fish bigger flies. The Tie-Down Midge is the key to dry-fly fishing the Midge in the winter and this fly works everywhere! It can also be an effective subsurface pattern when drowned. The Streamer fishing on the Wood, due to the presence of the Wood River sculpin, can be outstanding!
Silver Creek, despite hearing about all the pressure it received this season, had essentially been abandoned by most anglers. The Streamer fishing on the Creek can be off-the-charts good in the winter and some very big fish can be caught. There have been a few folks out lately with the nicer weather, but show up on an inclement day and you could have the river to yourself.
Silver Creek remains open for catch-and-release fishing from the Highway 20 bridge downstream to Picabo until the end of March. Fish bright Streamers on bright days and dark Streamers on dark days. You could also just come by Picabo Angler and pick up a few custom-tied Sparkle Minnows that seemingly work under any condition.
The South Fork of the Boise is also fishing well this early-winter season. The same flies you would use on the Big Wood are going to work fine on the South Fork. Be sure to check the weather before you head down into the canyon—it’s not the place to be during winter storms.
Until the skiing picks up with more snow, be sure you will see more of your fellow anglers, although not like we saw this past summer. Be kind and stay kind so everyone can have a memorable holiday fishing experience.
Happy fishing, everyone!
